Many of the area lakes offer very good fishing for largemouth bass. Since most anglers are targeting toothy critters such as walleye, northern pike and muskie, largemouth bass are often overlooked, which is great for largemouth bass anglers. You can target largemouth bass and expect to catch them in good numbers in several of the area lakes. With less fishing pressure, you may be able to entice these fish into more strikes.
Big Cormorant Lake (Becker County, MN)
Big Cormorant Lake is a very good walleye lake. At 3,421 acres, it is the second largest lake in Becker County. Its relatively close proximity to the Fargo-Moorhead area results in heavy angling pressure and shoreline development. The DNR hasn’t done a status of the fishery on this lake since 2008, but back then it showed very good numbers of walleye with good numbers of northern pike and smallmouth bass as well. Other fish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch. Anglers can also target bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Boyer Lake (Becker County, MN)
Boyer Lake is a lightly developed, occasional winter kill lake located in western Becker County. There is a public boat access located on the northwest shore of the lake, adjacent to U.S. Highway 10 east of Lake Park. Between winter kills, the fishing can be good for a variety of fish. The last time that the DNR did a status of the fishery was back in 2008. Back then, there were catchable numbers of walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Buffalo Lake (Becker County, MN)
Buffalo Lake has a solid fishery with good numbers of northern pike, walleye, and bluegill. Other fish include largemouth bass, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Cotton Lake (Becker County, MN)
Cotton Lake totals 1,783 acres with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Game fish include northern pike, walleye and largemouth bass. Panfish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Detroit Lake (Becker County, MN)
Detroit Lake is known for having a variety of species to catch. Game fish include muskie, northern pike, largemouth bass and northern pike. Panfish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch. This lake gets a lot of attention from muskie anglers. The stocking efforts have been successful and muskie up to and above 50 inches are possible.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
East LaBelle Lake (Becker County, MN)
East LaBelle Lake is a relatively shallow, fertile, prairie lake located in western Becker County along the northeastern outskirts of Lake Park, MN. Because it is a shallower lake, winter fish kills are possible on this lake. The last time the Minnesota DNR did a status of the fishery on this lake was 2008 and back then this lake had very good numbers of northern pike with some quality-sized fish available. Other fish include largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Floyd Lake (Becker County, MN)
Floyd is a 1,178 acre lake with a heavily developed shoreline located just north of the city of Detroit Lakes. This lake is a popular recreational lake with boat traffic from many boaters and anglers. This lake has good numbers of northern pike to go along with walleye, largemouth bass and panfish such include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Height of Land Lake (Becker County, MN)
Height of Land Lake is a large (3,520 acre) shallow lake located in central Becker County. This lake has been known to have winter fish kills due to its shallow depths. Some fish kills have been more harsh than others, but most of the time, bullheads, northern pike and perch will survive the fish kills much better than the bass, walleye and sunfish. Northern pike numbers are typically good in this lake and due to stocking, fishing can be good for other species of fish in between these winter fish kills. Other fish in the lake include largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Hungry Lake (Becker County, MN)
Hungry Lake is a small lake, but it does offer anglers some good fishing opportunities. The lake offers good fishing for northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish with modest numbers of stocked walleye. The panfish in this lake include bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Island Lake (Becker County, MN)
Island Lake is a 1,142 acre lake and it is known for its walleye fishing, although, there are catchable numbers of many different species of fish. Anglers can also target northern pike, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. This lake is a popular fishing lake and it does get quite a bit of fishing pressure.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Lake Eunice (Becker County, MN)
Lake Eunice is best suited for northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. Walleye spawning habitat is rare in this lake, so natural reproduction is minimal at best. The walleye fishery in Lake Eunice is sustained by stocking. Panfish in this lake include bluegill, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Lake Maud (Becker County, MN)
Maud Lake is known primarily as a northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish lake which also has a modest population of relatively large walleye. Suitable spawning habitat is present for all fish except walleye in this lake, so the walleye fishery is maintained by regular stocking. Panfish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Lake Melissa (Becker County, MN)
Lake Melissa is a good fishing lake for a variety of fish. The northern pike fishing is probably what stands out most, especially for anglers that like to target big northern pike. There are catchable numbers of walleye in this lake. Other fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Lake Sallie (Becker County, MN)
Lake Sallie is a popular lake. It gets a lot of fishing pressure, but it keeps producing quality fish. There are a variety of fish to target on the lake, but the northern pike fishery is what really stands out here. Northern pike 24 inches or greater in length have been protected from harvest by an experimental regulation since 1996. This regulation was intended to allow more pike to survive to larger sizes and to reduce the number of small pike. This has helped this lake grow some very big northern pike. There are good numbers of walleye in this lake. Other fish include largemouth bass, muskie, bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Leif Lake (Leaf Lake) – (Becker County, MN)
Leif Lake is primarily suited for northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. Walleye are also present in the lake. Panfish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch. and these are generally the fish species most anglers target in this lake.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Little Cormorant Lake (Becker County, MN)
Little Cormorant Lake is a popular fishing lake that provides good fishing between very infrequent winter kills. A combination of factors including high water levels, mild winters and lake aeration by the Cormorant Lake Sportsmen’s Club have helped to prevent severe winter kill on this lake for many years. Very little walleye spawning habitat exists on this lake, so the modest walleye fishery exists here because of the stocking program. This lake offers good fishing for northern pike. Other fish include largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Little Floyd Lake (Becker County, MN)
Little Floyd Lake is a smaller lake at only 214 acres with a maximum depth of 34 feet. The primary game fish on this lake are northern pike, walleye and largemouth bass. The last status of the fishery done by the DNR was in 2011 and they reported very good numbers of northern pike with some decent-sized fish and the DNR is hoping that the 24 to 36 inch slot limit will help make turn this lake into a trophy pike lake. With the presence of cisco in the lake, the slot limit could help grow some very big pike. Panfish include bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Little Toad Lake (Becker County, MN)
Little Toad Lake is a smaller lake with the primary species of fish being northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish. Walleye are also available due to a stocking program. Other fish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Long Lake (Becker County, MN)
Long Lake is a narrow, 409 acre lake that is located on the western edge of the city of Detroit Lakes. This lake has been known for having good numbers of small northern pike and bluegill. Other fish include walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Marshall Lake (Becker County, MN)
Marshall Lake is known primarily as a bullhead lake, but there are also decent numbers of walleye and northern pike. When fishing with live bait, you are better off using larger minnows to avoid the bullhead bites. Other fish include largemouth bass, bluegill and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Middle Cormorant Lake (Becker County, MN)
Middle Cormorant Lake is a 360 acre lake located in western Becker County. It currently has a navigable connection to Nelson Lake and Upper Cormorant Lake and a non-navigable connection to Big Cormorant Lake. This lake is best suited for largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish. Some walleye are present in this lake, but it’s definitely not a great walleye lake. The panfish in this lake include bluegill, crappie and rock bass.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Nelson Lake (Becker County, MN)
Nelson Lake is part of a chain of lakes just west of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. Nelson Lake has a navigable connection to Middle Cormorant Lake and Upper Cormorant Lake. Anglers can target walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Pearl Lake (Becker County, MN)
Pearl Lake is primarily known for its northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. Walleye are also available, but since suitable spawning habitat is lacking for walleye, this lake relies on stocking to provide a catchable walleye fishery. Panfish include bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Pickerel Lake (Becker County, MN)
Pickerel Lake is a long, narrow, 361 acre lake located about 7 miles northeast of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. This lake has steep, rocky drop-offs along the shoreline. The most recent status of the fishery that was done by the DNR reported solid numbers of northern pike, walleye and largemouth bass. Panfish include bluegill, crappie, rock bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Rock Lake (Becker County, MN)
Rock Lake totals just under 1,200 acres with a maximum depth of 18 feet. This lake has been a good panfish lake with some decent fishing for walleye, largemouth bass and northern pike. Rock Lake has been prone to winter fish kills, although, most of the fish kills have been moderate on the lake. Because of the fish kills, the fishing can vary from year to year depending on how mild or harsh the weather was during the winter. Northern pike tend to do well through winter fish kills, so pike are almost always a good option for anglers on Rock Lake. Panfish include bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Rossman (Erickson) Lake (Becker County, MN)
Rossman (Erickson) Lake has a tendency to partially winter kill during some winters. Algae blooms and low water clarity often make mid-summer angling difficult. Fish populations are similar to many other winter kill lakes in Minnesota. This lake typically has high populations of bullhead to go along with northern pike and bluegill. Other fish include crappie, largemouth bass and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Tamarac Lake (Becker County, MN)
Tamarac Lake is prone to winter fish kills. Like similar lakes in Minnesota, bullhead, northern pike and perch tend to do survive the winter fish kills while largemouth bass, walleye and sunfish don’t do so well. The DNR restocks the lake after a fish kill, so depending on the most recent fish kill will dictate what types of fish you will be able to catch. Anglers can target northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye, bluegill, crappie and perch.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Toad Lake (Becker County, MN)
Big Toad Lake is a good fishing lake for a variety of fish. Anglers target northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, sunfish and crappie. Rock bass and yellow perch are also available.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Upper Cormorant Lake (Becker County, MN)
Upper Cormorant is a popular, all-around fishing lake located in southwestern Becker County. This 856-acre lake is part of a chain of lakes that is known for its walleye fishing. Two narrow channels that may not be navigable during lower water years connect Upper Cormorant Lake with Rossman (Erickson) Lake and Nelson Lake to the east. Anglers also target northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, crappie and perch on this lake.
MN DNR Lake Information Report
Best Baits for Largemouth Bass
Largemouth bass will eat so many different baits and there are so many different lures that are made for catching these fish. Anglers have more options than they really need, but since we have all these options, it’s nice to know about the different baits that are available.
Minnows, nightcrawlers and leeches are definitely the best live baits for largemouth bass. When it comes to artificial lures, you have so many options. Soft plastic worms, lizards, crayfish baits and minnows work great. Hard baits such as crankbaits, topwater lures, spinnerbaits, jigs and jerkbaits are also all awesome choices for largemouth bass.
To learn more, take a look at our pages below.
Best Live Baits for Largemouth Bass
Best Lures for Largemouth Bass
Best Rigs for Largemouth Bass
There are so many different rigs for largemouth bass. While you definitely don’t need to use all of them to consistently catch bass, it is important to learn how some of the rigs will help you fish certain areas or certain baits in a way to catch more fish. Most good bass anglers will use several different rigs in a variety of situations to consistently catch quality largemouth bass.
The standup jighead, Texas rig, drop shot rig, wacky rig and Carolina rig are definitely some of the best rigs for largemouth bass page.
Best Techniques for Largemouth Bass
There are many different techniques that are used for largemouth bass fishing. Casting a variety of baits to cover water is most popular, however, flipping & pitching is one of the best ways to catch bass around shallow water cover.
To learn more, take a look at our best techniques for largemouth bass page.
Learn More About Largemouth Bass
Our largemouth bass fishing section has tons of tips on the best lures, live baits, where to catch them and how to catch them.
Visit our largemouth bass fishing website to learn more.
